Research
There are two complementary programmes in the region linked with NIMHE whose aims are to progress mental health research.
NIMHE Eastern Consortium for Social Research
NIMHE Eastern Consortium for Social Research (NECSR) is co-chaired by Professors Peter Huxley and Jenny Secker. The focus of the Consortium is on nonclinical trial research, on projects of local value and on the social aspects of mental health and mental health services. The aims are to harness the expertise we have in the region in order to strengthen our research and attract external funding.
The NESCR will work in particular to identify and respond to users’ and carers’ priorities for research. It will bring together similar interests already reflected in projects in different locations and strengthen dissemination of research findings. The NESCR also aims to increase the capacity to undertake studies where service users are low in numbers (e.g. direct payments) and to carry out useful comparative studies between areas and services.
Key activities:
- Publication of an updated Regional Directory of Mental Health Research
- A Regional Mental Health Social Care Research Showcase Event to be held in
2006 - A mapping exercise to establish what social research work is being undertaken in the region and what work has recently completed
- A wide priority setting exercise to plan the strategy for taking NECSR forward. Plans are in hand to have two priority setting exercises - the first, a service user/carer priority exercise and the second amongst professional groups
2006
Key Contacts:
Sarah Thurlow, Regional Fellow for Social Care Research
Peter Huxley and Jenny Secker, Co-Chairs of the NIMHE Eastern Consortium for Social Research
Valerie Lofthouse, Office Manager
East Anglia Hub of the UK-Mental Health Research Network
The East Anglia Hub is one of a number of research hubs across England that make up the UK - Mental Health Research Network. Its aims are to:
- organise and deliver large-scale research projects to inform policy and practice as it develops, and to help services implement change
- broaden the scope and capacity of research, including full involvement of service users and carers in commissioning and delivering research
- help identify the research needs of mental health (particularly in health and social care), working with frontline staff, service users and carers
- develop research capacity through a range of initiatives at a local, regional and national level
The benefits of the East Anglia Hub are that it provides instant access to a number of clinical and academic centres and brings together research and providers of mental health and social care services. It offers a broad scope, covering all mental health disciplines and support and guidance on research governance issues, data protection and ethical matters. The Hub also co-ordinates the management of subcontracts to individual centres.
www.mhrn.info/eastangliahub
Key Contacts:
Peter Jones, Director, East Anglia Hub UK-MHRN
Marijcke Veltman, Research Co-ordinator, East Anglia Hub UK-MHRN